FamilyFarmed.org Releases Report:
Food Safety Project for the Wisconsin Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Industry
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The overall goal of the Food Safety Project for the Wisconsin Fresh
Fruit and Vegetable Industry is "to enhance the competitiveness of
specialty crop producers in Wisconsin by assessing the food safety
needs of fresh fruit and vegetable producers and by developing best
practices to meet the needs identified." The Wisconsin Department of
Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection contracted with
FamilyFarmed.org to perform an analysis and devise recommendations
regarding the current state of on-farm food safety within the Wisconsin
produce industry. FamilyFarmed.org engaged industry representatives
as stakeholders to participate in the needs assessment and contribute
to overall project content and process. The needs assessment revealed
that challenges exist for buyers, growers, distributors, and
regulators.
Key recommendations in the report include:
1. Explore the establishment of a Wisconsin Produce Innovation Center, from identifying produce market needs across the supply chain to piloting one-on-one technical assistance and/or a grower hotline.
2. Develop and promote a web based tool to assist Wisconsin fruit and vegetable growers in learning about food safety, from "Why should I be concerned?" to "What are best practices?" to becoming GAP/GHP-certified for food safety.
3. Create pamphlets and educational materials that inform growers and buyers about specific on-farm food safety risks and how they can mitigate the risks. Develop an outreach and communications plan to promote and disseminate the materials.
4. Continue existing and implement new education and training programs to relay technical information and best practices to growers using direct and "train the trainer" education for agricultural professionals. Further explore how to engage buyers in training and education efforts at levels where interest was indicated (i.e., buying and giving growers a food safety manual and hosting/presenting at a grower workshop).
5. Continue to offer and promote a cost-sharing program for GAP/GHP food safety certification.
Read more and access the report here.
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FamilyFarmed.org is Proud to Sponsor the August 29th Benefit for
Purple Asparagus
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|  Purple
Asparagus is a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing families
back to the
table by promoting and enjoying all the things associated with good
eating.
Join us at the family friendly Corks & Crayons
event in Chicago and enjoy:
tasty bites from Uncommon Ground
wine,
beer, cocktails and non-alcoholic beverages
kids mini farmers market
raffle
and silent auction
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LOCAL MEAT DOUBLE FEATURE:
Walnut
Acres Family Farm and
Cedar
Valley Sustainable Farm
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Walnut
Acres Family Farm
Home
Grown Meats
294
Baseline Rd.
Walnut,
IL 61376
Providing "Local access to high quality food-at affordable
prices" is the goal at Walnut Acres, a family farm where Dave and Robin Jameson
have produced "home grown meats" for more than 12 years now. Their range fed
beef, pork, chicken and turkeys are free of hormones, antibiotics and animal
by-products, and are handled with care. The Jamesons grew up on grain and
livestock farms in the area that have been in their families for 5 and 6
generations. They wanted their
seven children to be raised with the same values, ideals and farm life
experiences they were, and to promote local, natural - grown products. Their approach is "back to basics",
where animals are free to graze and are provided with comfortable quarters for
shelter and raising their young. The animals at Walnut Acres have a varied
diet, including locally grown hay and a small amount of corn. They also have
some hard-to-find specialty items, like heirloom turkeys and pullet eggs. At their website, you can sign up for their
mailing list, learn more about their economical CSA programs, and view their
product list. Check out their recipes and calendar of farm events for CSA
members to visit the farm and get acquainted with the Jameson family and Walnut
Acres.
Call the farm at 815-343-3936, visit their website, or send an email.
Cedar Valley Sustainable Farm
1985 N. 3609th Rd.
Ottawa, IL 61350
Jody and Beth Osmund returned from city life and corporate
careers to their family's farm north of Ottawa, IL five years ago. Through hard
work, perseverance and the support of fellow farmers and CSA members, they have
grown into a thriving family farm offering beef, pork and chickens all raised
sustainably and humanely. Cedar Valley meat is free of antibiotics, hormones,
drugs, and genetically modified feed. Chickens are pasture raised - free to
forage tasty bugs and greens, and large animals graze the pastures in small
groups and feed on locally grown hay and grains. The resulting meats and eggs are delicious, fresh, healthy,
and affordable. Deliveries are made monthly to CSA members in Logan Square, Oak
Park and other Chicago suburban locations, or by appointment at the farm. Customers may choose to omit beef, pork
or chicken for special dietary preferences. Visit Cedar Valley's Facebook
page, or go to their website
to learn more about the meats they sell, CSA membership and the fun events they
have at the farm. Call Jody or Beth at 815-431-9544, send them an email, or check out their website and Facebook
page.
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Save the date for Farm Aid 25:
Growing Hope
for America!
Farm Aid will be celebrating its 25th year with a concert in
Milwaukee WI on Saturday, October 2 at Miller Park!"Willie Nelson, Neil Young and John Mellencamp organized the first Farm
Aid concert in 1985 to keep family farmers on their land. At that time,
family farmers were in a fight for their livelihoods and their farms in
an economic situation that closely mirrors what so many Americans face
today.
Since that first concert, Farm Aid has been a relentless champion
for family farmers. Through the dedicated hard work of its board of
directors, which added Dave Matthews in 2001, many thousands of donors,
and the nearly four hundred artists who have generously donated their
time and performances, Farm Aid is now the longest running benefit
concert series in America."
Visit www.FarmAid.org here!
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Action Alert!
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SAVE THE DATE for Walks, Talks, Picnics, Workshops and more as
Elaine Weiss
visits Chicagoland
October 5-7
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Weiss'
three-day swing through Chicagoland is designed to connect the food systems of
the past with those of the present and the future by educating advocates of healthy
people, healthy land, and healthy economies about:
*landmark
contributions by Progressive era women to insure food security in World War I
*the
future of regional food production and food access as laid out in the Go to 2040
Plan of the Chicago Metropolitan Agency (CMAP) with an address by CMAP
Director, Randy Blankenhorn
*opportunities
in The Child Nutrition Act the 2012 federal Farm Bill if women demand changes
in the way American food is produced and accessed.
Co-sponsored by:
Jane Addams Hull House Museum on the campus of UIC, The Chicago Botanic
Garden, Prairie Crossing, The University of Chicago, Slow Food Chicago,
The Peterson Garden, and The Adlai Stevenson Center for Democracy |
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